Cabinet



Patented Apr. 28, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NELSON T. COBCORAN, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE. CORCORAN MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, 0F NORWOOD, OHIO, A CORPORATION 0F OHIO CABINET .Application led July 6,

This invention relates to an improved cabinet such as may be supported upon or within a wall or other upright support means.

An object of the invention is to provide a cabinet of the above type having a selfopening' door held in closed position by a positive latching means.

Another object is to provide a convenient means whereby access may be had to the interior-of a wall cabinet.

Another object is toy provide a cabinet of the above type wherein the door latching and door opening means are disposed so as not to interfere with the mounting of a glass orf mirror which covers the entire outer surface of the door.

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein and disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which: y

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the cabinet viewed from above.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view on line -2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3' is a cross-sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.I

The self-opening cabinet of this invention comprises iavbody or casing having a 'rear wall 5 frcr'n which extend substantially erpendicularly thereto, the side walls 6 and bottom wall 8, and a top wall, not shown.-

The' top Wall is similar to the bottom Wall 8, and its function is the same as that of the bottom wall, as will become readily apparent. Each. of the walls is provided, at

" a distance from the rear wall 5, with an integral flange portion 9 spaced from, the outer sur ace of its corres onding wall. A peripheral abutment ange 'l0 connects the Walls with their respective iiange portions 9.

To one' of the abutment flanges 10 are secured a plurality of hinges, such as 11, for hingedly mounting the door 12 upon the cabinet. The hinges referably are set in de ressions 13, to permit the door to abut the comprises an inner panel 14 vhavin a circumferential outwardly projecting ange 15 adapted to retain imposition a slab or panel arallel to, and

anges 10 when closed. The door 12 1929. Serial No. 376,457.

16 of shock-absorbing material, upon which rests a glass panel or mirror 17. The mirror 17 may be secured thereto by any Suitable means such as smooth headed bolts 18 passing through the panels 14, 16, and 17, as shown. p

Means are provided for positively latching the door in a closed position. Said means vcomprises a reciprocable bolt 19 (Figs. 1 and 3) yieldingly urged toward the cabinet interior by means of a-spring 20. The bolt cooperates with a keeper 21 secured to the inner face of panel 14 and presenting an extending lu 22 for abutting the bolt. When lug 22 is 1n position behind the bolt, as shown, the door islatched inclosed posi tion. The bolt is moved from latched position by means of a push button device 23 extending outwardly from flan e 9 through a perforation 24 therein. s may be plainly seen in Fig. 3, the push button 23 is disposed on the outer end of a rod 25, the inner end 26 of which is provided with a block 27 pivoted upon one end of a lever 28. Lever 28 has-a fulcrum at 29 upon a bracket 30,' which is welded or otherwise iixedly secured' to the rear face of portion 10. A bearing block 31, similarly secured to said rear face, at a oint between the wall 6 and flange 9, provi es a support for the bolt 19. The extending arms 32 of the bearing block are provided with aligned perforations 33 for freely receiving the reciprocable bolt. By pivoting the free end o f arm 28 upon the bolt, as at 34, the bolt is'rendered movable upon depression of the push button, against the resistance of spring 20. A perforation 35 in wall 6 permits the bolt to enter the cabinet for cooperating with keeper 21. Spring 20, abutting the. bolt 19 Vand flange 9 may be held in position by inserting one end thereof in a perforation 36 s Shown in y Fig. 1, the lug has a turned end 41 which is welded-or otherwise fixedly secured to the inner face of panel 14.

The plunger works in a casing or guide 42 extending through a perforation in the side wall 7 for disposition exteriorly of the cabinet. As shown in Fig. 1, the guide extends between wall 7 and flange 9. A shoulder` 43 on the plunger receives the force of the compressed 'spring 3S, and a head 44 on the end of the plunger limits outward movement of the plunger by abutting the end`45 of the guide. It should be clear, therefore, that plunger 37 will act, upon release of the locking means, to swing the door open. The flange 46 on the plunger casing 42 maybe simply seated or may be fixed in abutment upon the interior face of side wall 7. When the door is closed, the inner panel 14 thereof abuts the peripheral abutment flange 10.

A cabinet constructed in accordance with the invention provides for ready access to the interior thereof, even though door handles or knobs are eliminated. Because of the simplicity of the relatively few parts used in the construction of the device, and the consequent savin of time and labor in the assembly thereof, the devices may be manufactured at a minimum of expense. The appearancefof the device is enhanced also because of concealment of the working parts. This is especially desirable from both practical and artistic standpoints when a mirror front is used on the cabinet. `It is -to be understood that various modifications and changes in structural details of the device may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a cabinet of the class described the combination of a hollow casing having lopposed walls, the front thereof being open, a perlpheral abutting portion and a ange portion adjacent to and integral with each casing wall, each flange portion bein disl' posed in spaced parallelism with its ad] acent wall, a door hingedly mounted on the casing for closing the o en front thereof, said door b eing arranged or contacting the said abutting portions, and door controlling means disposed between the walls and spaced flanges.

2. In apdevice of the class described the combination of a side wall `having an integral abutting portion and a 'ange, a door hingedly mounted for abutment upon the said abutting portion, an extending lug on the door, and means cooperating with said lug for yieldingly resisting closing of the door and serving 'to urge the door to open position, said means comprising a yieldingly extended plunger arranged to contact the lug on the door and a guide for the plunger extending between the wall and flange.

1,soa,552

3. In a device of the class described the combination of a side wall havin integral exteriorly disposed abutting and ange portions, a door hingedly mounted for abutment upon the abutting portion, releasable latch means for holding the door in closed position, and means for opening the door upon release of the latch said means comprising a guide extending through the side wall and disposed between the wall and the flange portion thereof, a spring plunger extended from the guide, means limiting movement of the plunger in the guide, and means on the door for transmitting movement of the plunger to the door.

4. In combination a one-piece cabinet having integral extending ange portions, a door for the cabinet, a member housed behind the flange at one side of the cabinet to normally urge the door to open position, means behind the flange at the opposite side to releasably latch the door against the force of the door urging member, and button means extending through the fiange of the last mentioned side and cooperating with the latch means for releasing the door.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 25th day of June, ,I 

